Sundown (Gordon Lightfoot song) explained
"Sundown" is a song by Canadian folk artist Gordon Lightfoot, from the titular album, released as a single in March 1974.
"Sundown" reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and easy listening charts[2] and No. 13 on the Hot Country singles chart,[3] as well as No. 1 in Canada on RPMs national singles chart. It was Lightfoot's only single to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Content
The lyrics describe a troubled romantic relationship (often cited as Cathy Smith), with the narrator recounting an affair with a "hard-loving woman [who's] got me feeling mean".
In a 2008 interview, Lightfoot said:
Personnel
Engineered by Lee Herschberg
Recorded at Eastern Sound Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Gordon Lightfoot: Lead and background vocals, 12-string guitar
- Red Shea
Lead electric guitar
- Terry Clements: Lead acoustic guitar
- John Stockfish: Bass
- Jim Gordon
Drums
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Other versions
- The musical project/collaboration of singer-songwriters Elwood covered the song in 2000. This version peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart on July 8, 2000.[14]
- American country music singer Deryl Dodd's version of the song peaked at #59 on Billboards Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1999. It was later included on his album, Pearl Snaps (2002).
- Danish supergroup Dalton covered the song on their first album Dalton released in 1992, under the title "Selskabsmadonna".
- American country music singer Charles Wesley Godwin covered the song through Amazon Original Music in 2024.
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown". . May 23, 2019 . “Sundown” is a pretty atypical piece of mid-’70s folk-rock.. June 19, 2023.
- Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition . Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 368.
- Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 201.
- Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian) . Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . 1993 . Australian Chart Book . 0-646-11917-6.
- Web site: Top 40 . Top40.nl . 2016-10-10.
- Web site: flavour of new zealand - search listener . Flavourofnz.co.nz . 2016-10-10.
- Web site: SA Charts 1965–March 1989. 5 September 2018.
- Web site: Gordon Lightfoot full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. May 9, 2023.
- Gordon Lightfoot Chart History: Adult Contemporary. Billboard. May 9, 2023.
- Web site: National Top 100 Singles for 1974. . 29 . . December 30, 1974 . January 15, 2022 .
- Web site: Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada . Bac-lac.gc.ca . 17 July 2013. 2016-10-10.
- Web site: Top 20 Hit Singles of 1974. 26 September 2018.
- Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974 . Musicoutfitters.com . 2016-10-10.
- Web site: Elwood - Chart history . Billboard . 2000-07-08 . 2016-10-10.